St. James Cathedral Basilica

Welcome! We are the Cathedral parish of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Brooklyn serving the communities of Downtown Brooklyn, Dumbo and Vinegar Hill. 

We are a diverse community who together strive to celebrate our faith through Word, Prayer, Worship, Community and Service.

May 25^th, 2020 – Important Message
As many of you know, Bishop DiMarzio has been working with diocesan, medical, governmental and law enforcement officials to formulate a plan for reopening the churches in Brooklyn. The plan that has emerged is very detailed and challenging. The schedule is this:
 
REOPENING SCHEDULE
Stage 1: Opening of Churches for private prayer and devotion, Funerals, Baptisms and Weddings (May 26th) 
Stage 2: Limited Celebrations of Daily Mass (No date has been set yet)
Stage 3:  Limited Celebrations of Sunday Mass (No date has been set yet)
Stage 4:  Celebration of First Holy Communion and Confirmation (No date has been set yet) 
The commencement dates of these stages (numbers 2,3, and 4) will be announced.
 
THE FOLLOWING ARE THE DETAILED GUIDELINES:
• Before opening, pastors and administrators may be interested in sanitizing the church. 
• After the churches reopen for private prayer and devotion, the full reopening of the churches for liturgical celebrations will begin after the order for reopening of large gatherings has been given. This is important because of the danger of gathered crowds and the possible spread of the virus.
• One door should be opened for entrance into the church. However, all doors should be available for egress in emergencies.
 • The church should be marked off with painter’s tape to show areas that adhere to social distancing guidelines 
• The elderly and all who are health-compromised MUST be advised to stay home. Communications to parishioners should tell them that anyone who feels sick in any way must stay home. Parishioners should be asked to take their temperatures before leaving their home and should stay home if the temperature is over 100 degrees.  
• The church will have been measured and marked off, respecting social distancing norms. 
• There is to be NO holy water in the fonts. 
• Crying rooms and other rooms aside from the main church must be kept closed and locked. 
• Hymnals, missalettes and any other worship aids must be removed from the pews and stored away. 
• Bulletins must not be distributed, nor should there be any literature available for people to take. 
• Parishioners must be advised of the requirement to wear masks, which they will bring on their own from home. No one should be in church without a mask.
 • Hand sanitizer should be available at the entrance to church but parishioners are to be encouraged to bring their own from home, as well. 
• Restrooms should be open and available but used by one person at a time and must be cleaned regularly. 
• It is advisable that churches be cleaned after each opening. 
• For the foreseeable future, parishes may not schedule any events which will draw crowds and make social distancing difficult.
  
PRIVATE PRAYER AND DEVOTION
  
• The church will be open for a limited time period each day. The church should remain open for no more than 4 hours each day. These hours should not coincide with the time a Mass is celebrated in the church. 
• There is to be no congregating of people (e.g. gathering to say a rosary together). There should not be more than ten (10) people in the church and there cannot be a group gathered. 
• The faithful must be instructed not to touch statues or other devotional objects in the church. 
• Two ushers or other volunteers MUST be present in the church to assure that social distancing rules are observed and to determine whether the church is getting too crowded. 
Please note that some churches in high population density areas will not be able to open on the May 26th as they may have to set a different timeline.
The above is a condensed but faithful representation of the regulations given us by the bishop. While some churches may be in a position to comply fully, it should be obvious that many places are not yet ready.
The church must be sanitized before and after each opening. The interior has to be marked off to provide guidance on social distancing, as has been done in supermarkets and other places. Elderly people are being asked to stay home. The standard understanding is anyone seventy and above is ‘elderly’ and this would exclude many of our parishioners. Whoever does visit will be restricted to the four hour window and will be required to wear a facemask the whole time, without exception. Visitors are not to touch objects within the church or gather to pray the rosary. At no time are more than ten people to be in the church at any given moment and two ushers or volunteers must be present to ensure compliance. The cathedral is in downtown Brooklyn, which has a high population density.
 
Our Cathedral-Basilica
Given these considerations, the rector, in consultation with the pastoral associate/business manager and the trustees has come to the decision that the cathedral is not prepared to adhere to the guidelines and provide the intended safe environment at this time.
We are working closely with the diocesan offices, the police department and other authorities to open the cathedral at the earliest date possible. Your prayers, patience and consideration are especially appreciated at this time.
Very Reverend Bryan Patterson
Rector and Pastor
Saint James Cathedral-Basilica

 

LETTER OF HIS HOLINESS POPE FRANCIS
TO THE FAITHFUL FOR THE MONTH OF MAY 2020

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

The month of May is approaching, a time when the People of God express with particular intensity their love and devotion for the Blessed Virgin Mary. It is traditional in this month to pray the Rosary at home within the family. The restrictions of the pandemic have made us come to appreciate all the more this “family” aspect, also from a spiritual point of view.

For this reason, I want to encourage everyone to rediscover the beauty of praying the Rosary at home in the month of May. This can be done either as a group or individually; you can decide according to your own situations, making the most of both opportunities. The key to doing this is always simplicity, and it is easy also on the internet to find good models of prayers to follow.

I am also providing two prayers to Our Lady that you can recite at the end of the Rosary, and that I myself will pray in the month of May, in spiritual union with all of you. I include them with this letter so that they are available to everyone.

Dear brothers and sisters, contemplating the face of Christ with the heart of Mary our Mother will make us even more united as a spiritual family and will help us overcome this time of trial. I keep all of you in my prayers, especially those suffering most greatly, and I ask you, please, to pray for me. I thank you, and with great affection I send you my blessing.

Rome, Saint John Lateran, 25 April 2020
Feast of Saint Mark the Evangelist

Pope Francis

First Prayer to Our Lady
 

O Mary,
You shine continuously on our journey
as a sign of salvation and hope.
We entrust ourselves to you, Health of the Sick,
who, at the foot of the cross,
were united with Jesus’ suffering,
and persevered in your faith.

“Protectress of the Roman people”,
you know our needs,
and we know that you will provide,
so that, as at Cana in Galilee,
joy and celebration may return
after this time of trial.

Help us, Mother of Divine Love,
to conform ourselves to the will of the Father
and to do what Jesus tells us.
For he took upon himself our suffering,
and burdened himself with our sorrows
to bring us, through the cross,
to the joy of the Resurrection.
Amen.

We fly to your protection,
O Holy Mother of God;
Do not despise our petitions
in our necessities,
but deliver us always
from every danger,
O Glorious and Blessed Virgin.

The second Prayer
 

“We fly to your protection, O Holy Mother of God”.

In the present tragic situation, when the whole world is prey to suffering and anxiety, we fly to you, Mother of God and our Mother, and seek refuge under your protection.

Virgin Mary, turn your merciful eyes towards us amid this coronavirus pandemic. Comfort those who are distraught and mourn their loved ones who have died, and at times are buried in a way that grieves them deeply. Be close to those who are concerned for their loved ones who are sick and who, in order to prevent the spread of the disease, cannot be close to them. Fill with hope those who are troubled by the uncertainty of the future and the consequences for the economy and employment.

Mother of God and our Mother, pray for us to God, the Father of mercies, that this great suffering may end and that hope and peace may dawn anew. Plead with your divine Son, as you did at Cana, so that the families of the sick and the victims be comforted, and their hearts be opened to confidence and trust.

Protect those doctors, nurses, health workers and volunteers who are on the frontline of this emergency, and are risking their lives to save others. Support their heroic effort and grant them strength, generosity and continued health.

Be close to those who assist the sick night and day, and to priests who, in their pastoral concern and fidelity to the Gospel, are trying to help and support everyone.

Blessed Virgin, illumine the minds of men and women engaged in scientific research, that they may find effective solutions to overcome this virus.

Support national leaders, that with wisdom, solicitude and generosity they may come to the aid of those lacking the basic necessities of life and may devise social and economic solutions inspired by farsightedness and solidarity.

Mary Most Holy, stir our consciences, so that the enormous funds invested in developing and stockpiling arms will instead be spent on promoting effective research on how to prevent similar tragedies from occurring in the future.

Beloved Mother, help us realize that we are all members of one great family and to recognize the bond that unites us, so that, in a spirit of fraternity and solidarity, we can help to alleviate countless situations of poverty and need. Make us strong in faith, persevering in service, constant in prayer.

Mary, Consolation of the afflicted, embrace all your children in distress and pray that God will stretch out his all-powerful hand and free us from this terrible pandemic, so that life can serenely resume its normal course.

To you, who shine on our journey as a sign of salvation and hope, do we entrust ourselves, O Clement, O Loving, O Sweet Virgin Mary. Amen.

URGENT UPDATE FROM THE DIOCESE OF BROOKLYN 
 
Given the continuing and growing concern about the spread of the COVID-19 virus, Bishop DiMarzio has determined that all public masses be cancelled in the Diocese of Brooklyn beginning Monday, March 16th, until further notice. This includes weekday masses as well as Sunday. Funerals and Weddings will be permitted but should be limited to family members only. Parish baptism celebrations should be limited to family only, if they cannot be postponed. Confirmations should be celebrated with the Rite of Confirmation without Mass, if need be, and in consultation with the Bishop scheduled to celebrate the Confirmation.  
 
The faithful of the diocese are reminded that the Bishop has already issued a dispensation from the obligation to attend Mass on Sunday. The obligation to keep the Lord’s Day holy can be fulfilled by maintaining a prayerful attitude and through personal and family prayer.  
 
The faithful are urged to watch the celebration of the Eucharist on TV, as well.   
 
The celebrations are scheduled as follows: Saturday at 6 pm: Vigil pre-recorded from Immaculate Conception in Jamaica (English) Sunday at 11 am: Live from St. James Cathedral in Downtown Brooklyn (English) Sunday at 1:30 pm: Pre-recorded from Co-Cathedral of St. Joseph in Prospect Heights (Spanish) 
 
NET-TV can be seen in the New York City are on Spectrum (Channel 97), Optimum (Channel 30) and FIOS (Channel 48). Viewers can also tune in online at www.netny.tv. 
 
In light of the continuing crisis, the situation is being monitored carefully and updates will follow. Let us continue to pray, especially through the intercession of Our Lady of Guadalupe, for those who are sick, for medical personnel and for all people as we confront this challenge. 



Churches and Liturgy
In an effort to be proactive in our response to the spread of the Covid 19 Virus, Bishop DiMarzio has dispensed the faithful from the obligation to attend Sunday Mass until further notice.
 
Public Masses will be celebrated; however the faithful are urged to exercise caution and try to limit the numbers of persons gathered. This is in an effort to be in compliance with the State’s regulations about large public gatherings. This dispensation remains in effect until further notice.
 
Weekday Masses, too, will continue as usual with the normal precautions people should take when gathering in public places. Other celebrations (such as weddings and funerals) may take place but attendance should be limited. Celebrations such as Confirmations, First Penance, etc. may take place but attendance should be strictly limited, perhaps including only family members. There is an option for an Order for Confirmation without Mass, if this is desired. In these extremely difficult and challenging times, our primary duty is to keep the faithful safe and healthy.
 
When gathering, the faithful are urged to take the necessary precautions including hand washing, remaining at a safe distance from others and other safe practices, such as the reception of Holy Communion in the hand.
 
Schools
The elementary Catholic Academies and Parish Schools in the Diocese of Brooklyn will close next week, Monday, March 16 to Friday, March 20. Monday will be used as a professional day for teachers to develop their distance learning plans. We anticipate that beginning Tuesday, children in the Diocese of Brooklyn’s Academies and Schools will have access to online learning.
In addition, the leadership of all Catholic Academies and Parish Schools are committed to following CDC guidelines regarding deep cleaning and sanitization of buildings.
 
This decision is being made out of an abundance of caution due to the rapidly changing situation and after consultation with city and state agencies. Please continue to monitor your Catholic Academy and Parish School websites next week for further updates.

Religious Education Programs
All in-person parish religious education classes, all youth ministry classes and group meetings (including all CYO activities) and all adult faith formation sessions (including RENEW and other small faith sharing groups) will be cancelled until further notice. As previously stated, all Secretariat for Evangelization and Catechesis classes, events, workshops, and other gatherings are also canceled during this period.
The health of all the faithful of the Diocese is of utmost concern, so let us continue to pray to the Lord Who is a healer to protect us and bring about quickly an end to this present crisis.
 
Office of the Vicar General
Diocese of Brooklyn
310 Prospect Park West
Brooklyn, NY 11215
Tel: 718.399.5995
Fax: 718.399.5965